MK Ultra Peat Bomb

I haven't too much experience with peat bombs. I have had a few peated scotches I like, but most of my monsters are waiting still to be opened. Of the ones I have been extremely impressed with:

Octomore 4.1 - still haven't opened my bottle but tried it once. I also tried the 6.1 at SOT this year. I would say the Octomore line is a strong contender.

Caol Ila cask strength at 58% - this one blew me away. I would have more but it's a 200 cc bottle and until get more, I'm saving it for other to try.

As for blends, Peat Monster is a very well put together dram.

Back in the old days, I used to apply the phrase "peat monster" all the time to really powerfully peaty whiskies. And then Compass Box The Peat Monster came out in 2004. It used to be called Monster and was available at 54.5%. I never had the chance to taste Monster but I've bought several bottles of The Peat Monster. I liked the earlier versions best.

These days, when I hear the phrase, I can't help thinking of Peat Monster by Compass Box. So I'm kind of off the "monster" label when it comes to a really strong peaty whisky.

This said, I love the new 10 year anniversary Peat Monster. It's really good, especially on the finish. Not hugely powerful but very elegant peat magick. It reminds me of the earlier versions of The Peat Monster from circa 2004 that I liked. This said, I would dearly love to have tried Monster. At nearly 55% it was certainly more of a Monster than The Peat Monster, which weighs in at 46%, which is respectable, but not as promising as nearly an extra 10% more bang in the glass.

Speaking of strong peaty whiskies, has anyone tried The Big Smoke 60 (percent) by D&T? I'm quite interested in that one. It's for sale in my home town but I've never tried it. Not very many reviews to be found on The Big Smoke 60.

I think Compass Box discontinued Monster in 2003. Anyone tried that one? If so, jealous! Woulda coulda shoulda.

Christ, I had a 15 year old Laphroaig there recently. Bottled exclusive for the TWE. It was a nuts peat bomb at 60% abv. Never had anything like it. It literally was like a bomb going off in your mouth.

Forget tasting anything else for the next day....

In my experience, Laphroaig 10 CS and Ardbeg Corryvreckan offer the biggest peat explosion from the world of easily accessible whisky.

I suspect that Lagavulin 12 belongs in that same company, but I've not had it.

I have a bottle of PC7 that I'm planning to open this fall. My hopes are very high. My intention is to open it early enough to see whether it warrants a second purchase (for about $100—yikes—which is my ceiling) when I get my Christmas bonus this year, assuming the few dusty bottles I know of in my area are still there by then.

I think the peat bomb whiskies that I'm most interested in trying (aside from the Lag 12) are those crazy Lost Spirits peaters made out in California and available at K&L. They sound totally weird and wild.

I almost bought a bottle of The Big Smoke 60% yesterday when I was considering making a biggish online order from Hi-Times. I ended up not getting one just because I did my order through Binny's instead, and they don't carry that one.

@rigmorole

I bought two different batches of Peat monster (based on packaging), the last one about 1-2 years ago. I don't know that it has been discontinued.

Compass Box's Monster was discontinued in 2003. The Peat Monster is going strong. Two different single malt blends altogether with different ABVs. If you haven't tried the new 10th Anniversary Peat Monster, go for it. I like it substantially more than The Peat Monster of the past few years. It reminds me of the older Peat Monsters from circa 2004 when it started.

@Misty The Whisky Exchange always intrigues me. I liked your suggestion a while back even though it was gone gone gone from TWE. My actor friend that was in the UK wasn't able to coordinate with me on bringing back a bottle to Oregon. I was interested in TWE special Ledaig bottling. It's been gone for a while. Never heard a review of it that wasn't on TWE.

@OlJas I also have a bottle of PC7 I have been saving for a special occasion. I think this year's birthday might warrant an open. I am looking forward to it.

I also agree about the Laphroaig 10yo CS and the Ardbeg Corry. Pound-for-pound the best price-to-peat-fix ratio.

I also really enjoy Ardbeg Supernova 2009 . . . wonderful peat in that. The truth is that I love peated whiskies. They are my favorite and I am always on the lookout for my next peat fix.

Oh! I have a Kilchoman single barrel bottle that is a wonderful peat bomb. I am also very interested to try more Ballechin bottles. I hope for a cask strength from them soon.

Favourites for me, 1) Ardbeg Supernova, 2) Bruichladdich Octomore, especially 5.1 and the original, and 3) that wonderful Kilchoman Single Barrel which @Nock just mentioned. I named that one 'Searing Vehemence'. That one just cuts through your mouth as sharp as a razor blade.

Octomore Orpheus 2.2 is by far my favourite Octomore (and all Bruichladdich), though the peat is so mellow that there is nothing either 'bomb-y' or monstrous about it. I am happy to drink PC 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, too.

I think the Laphroaig QC 2011 or 2012 was a beast to remember, something like a dirty streetfighter. But this year Big Peat is a beauty and offer a fun game if you have company: which Islay can you identify and why? I am saying that because while I was thinking of Ardbeg first others where thinking of Bowmore and other of ... @Oljas Funny, I was saying the other day how I would like to taste some Ouroboros or Leviathan II. The way people are either loving them or hating them let me believe they are assertive and flavorfull and probably some Ultra Peat Bomb since that is the kind of whisky that often provoques that kind of reaction. Anyway, I am with you on that one. Lets hope that someday we'll have our wish granted.

@Victor & @Nock, what exactly is that Kilchoman Single Barrel? Who sells it?

@Robert99, K&L ships that stuff, so I reasonably expect to get one some day. Maybe that's easier for me in the US than it is for you in Canada.

The Peat Monster 10th anniversary bottle is currently available—and on sale—at Binny's. $80. They ship.

The Laphroaig Quarter Cask is hard to beat for the price and availability, in my opinion.

@Oljas The problem is That it is illegal to buy alcool That haven't received the official approval of the liquor board ( and the big taxes that is coming with it ) in Quebec, making impossible mail orders. My second problem is that I have never encountered any of the Lost Spirits products on the east coast when I was on vacation. From what I read, it is of no surprise since the number of bottles produced is low. But good for you! Enjoy! I will make sure to read your review if you write one.

@OlJas, stats available on my review, search 'Searing Vehemence'.

@Victor, thanks. I must say I got a bang out of the instruction to search 'Searing Vehemence.'

Lagavulin 12 and Caol Ila CS come to mind

@rigmorole

Ahhh the TWE Glentauchers. Just so flipping good, a stunning sherry cask indeed. I'll post you over a sample at some stage when I next open a bottle. Haven’t even written a review yet…

That Ledaig from the TWE was just crazy. I love the way Serge (Whiskyfun) describes it as ‘smoked horse sweat and orange liqueur’. To be honest it was almost too much for me, the intensity of the experience.

@Misty very cool :))

The new Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley should be a cracker in this segment at a whopping 258ppm peating level.

I think Octomore 6.1 for me. I have an opened bottle of Peat Monster that I don't recall being quite as heavily peated as the Octomore. I also have two bottles of the Peat Monster 10th Anniversary, but haven't found reason to open one yet.

Oh - I do have a couple Supernovas waiting for me at home, but I won't see those until next year sometime. Really getting my hopes up for that.

@Bomberman get an Ardbeg 10 as a benchmark to compare the Supernova against.